Court warrant against GJM leaders: Shops closed in Darjeeling

Many shops were closed in Darjeeling hills today, one day after the issuing of warrants of arrest by a court against Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung, his wife Asha, party MLA Harka Bahadur Chettri and 20 others.

The arrest warrants were issued by city sessions court, Kolkata in connection with the murder of All India Gorkha League leader Madan Tamang in 2010.

Many shops and major markets were closed at Chowkbazar, Sukhiapokhri Bazar and other parts of Darjeeling town, besides Kalimpong and Kurseong since last afternoon, a Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) official said.

A district police official said though GJM activists did not hit the streets but there were posters protesting the arrest warrant against the top GJM leaders in different parts of the hill town.

CRPF personnel were on patrol at Darjeeling toy train station, Chowkbazar and Chowrasta but no untoward incident was reported so far, the police official said.

Caught in the present situation tourists were also seen leaving the hill resort in droves for Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri station as Morcha activists did not obstruct vehicular traffic.

"We had to pay exorbitant fare for a SUV to New Jalpaiguri station," member of a tourist group said.

The GTA official confirmed many tourists were still holed up in different hotels.

The shutdown followed the issuance of arrest warrant by acting chief judge of city sessions court (Kolkata) on a prayer by CBI which is investigating the murder of Tamang in Darjeeling town on May 21, 2010.

The court directed the investigating agency to file a report on execution of the order on June 26.

CBI had on May 29 filed a charge sheet against the GJM leaders levelling charges of murder and criminal conspiracy for the killing of Tamang.